Once upon a time, not too long ago, if you were a woman who wore clothes over a size 14 your clothing choices were limited to cheap looking, baggy and unattractive clothes that made you look old before your time.
My how times have changed! There has been a cultural shift in the acceptance of plussize women, particularly in the fashion industry. Women?s plus size clothing is no longer relegated to the back of the isle racks. Now days, it?s easy to find trendy plus size clothes such as: dresses, workout clothes, evening wear and swimwear.
Plus size celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Camryn Manheim, and Star Jones have also helped to usher in the era of plus size fashions. These women take pride in looking fashionable no matter how much their weight fluctuates. You can even see a once thin actress, Kirstie Alley, strut her stuff in her new cable show ?Fat Actress?. This would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.
Even the high fashion industry has taken notice. Models such as Emme have become famous for modeling large size fashions for women. Agencies are also looking for aspiring plus size models. Women looking for designer plus size clothes online will not be disappointed.
In the past, clothing for large size women 22w to 44w was extremely difficult to find ? and forget about being fashionable. Now, companies are springing up like Making It Big, who cater exclusively to this fashion hungry niche of clothing for big women. If you are looking for big women clothing, you now have more choice than ever when it comes to large size clothes for women.
Another old taboo in full figured clothing was that plus size women didn?t look good in ladies intimate apparel. Oh, I?m not talking about women wearing a large size bra (which it?s now easier to find comfortable large size bras). Plus size bras have been available for a long time. No, I mean really sensual full figure intimate apparel.
Designers have discovered that any woman will look good in intimate apparel if it?s made right for her body. Now, even in this fashion segment, plus sized women?s clothing has grown leaps and bounds. Plus size intimate apparel comes in all colors, styles and sizes, so that you can show off your sensual side too, ladies!
Need nice clothes for work? You can find an array of plus size suits, including: plus size pants suits, and plus size women?s suits.
Going to the beach or pool? It?s now possible to find a wide selection of plus size swimming suits. Where plus size swim suits used to be mostly black and unattractive, they are now very colorful and figure flattering.
Getting married? Obtaining a wedding dress plus size is no longer a huge ordeal. If you are looking for a large size wedding dress, with all the frills, or a plus size informal wedding dress, you?ll be delighted at the selection you?ll find online and offline. No bride should have an ill-fitting wedding dress, or be denied beautiful style that their thinner sisters enjoy. Many wedding boutiques and some online outlets offer beautiful plus size wedding dresses, and be assured that your plus size wedding dress will fit and look beautiful.
Yes, my friends. The plus size women?s clothing revolution has arrived. Our plus size sisters can now have a closet full of great looking clothes and keep pace with the best fashionistas. Not only is this great for plus size women, it?s great for society as well. Everyone can now see that a woman?s inner and outer beauty has nothing to do with size.
http://www.advancingwomen.com/fashion/the-women-s-plus-size-clothing-revolution.html
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Businesswomen's Fashion Professional Style That Speaks for You - Without the Power Suit
When it comes to dressing for the office, we live in confusing times. Casual Friday has migrated to fill much of the workweek. And women are faced with a myriad of choices: pants, pantsuits, skirts, dresses or the 80s power suit.
"Women have it hard," says style expert Rachel Weingarten, president of GTK Marketing Group in New York and author of the newly-released book "Career and Corporate Cool." "There's no one way to dress. Every industry is different."
Never fear, help is here.
What Not to Wear
Where do women look for an example of appropriate business attire? Professional women on television seem to wear suit jackets over lingerie, which might not go over well at the typical accounting office. "For anybody who looks at television as their guide on what to wear career-wise, I will ask: Do these women look like anybody you know? No. These are actresses," Weingarten says. She lists the plastic surgery, hair extensions, sexy clothes and professional makeup that are a part of the make-believe television world. "That's not reality," she says.
Magazines are not much better. "When you pick up a fashion magazine, it's insane-looking. You would never wear your hair like that. When you look at the runway and see people wearing an $80,000 gold couture dress, you would never wear that," Weingarten says.
But television and magazines can serve a purpose in your wardrobe planning, Weingarten says. Look for overall style trends: the length of the jacket, the height of the heels. Add a metallic gold accent to your outfit with jewelry or shoes. "Use it to update your style a little bit," she says.
Finding What Fits
So what should you wear to the office? "You can never go wrong with wardrobe basics," Weingarten says. In "Career and Corporate Cool," Weingarten recommends beginning your wardrobe with knee-length pencil skirts and flat-front, boot-cut trousers. Pair these with classic button-front shirts and fitted blazers. Black shoes and classic jewelry will complete any outfit.
With every choice, consider color, fabric and cut. If you wear a sweater, go with cashmere. Select basic pieces in black, charcoal, navy, white and camel; complement the basics with colors that look great with your hair and skin tones.
Most importantly, choose what fits your shape and style. "I always choose what looks good on me, what suits my shape," Weingarten says. "I am never going to put something on, ever, that doesn't look good on me. I cannot do my job if I'm too self-conscious."
Roberta Hughes, founder and president of Avidere, a Salt Lake City-based image and fashion consulting group for men and women, agrees with Weingarten on the importance of a great fit. "Wear garments that fit and flatter your shape," says Hughes. "The right fit can make all the difference in feeling self-conscious or self-confident. Impeccable style is always an intelligent choice."
Suiting Up
Twenty years ago, professional women often wore power suits with big shoulder pads and a small neck scarf mimicking a man's tie. Fortunately, the era of the power suit is just about over. "The reason people like suits is it gives them one thing less to worry about: I'm wearing a suit, I look fine," Weingarten says. "I don't think that women in business have to stick to suits at all."
In some business environments, only a suit will do. But even if you're a corporate lawyer, you can still be feminine. "You can taper the waist a little bit, or have an interesting neckline, or add little accents," Weingarten says. "It's good to wear the basics. But you should integrate your own style into that."
Be sure to choose shoes to match the message of your clothing, Weingarten says. "I do think it's ludicrous to see stiletto heels with a power suit," she says. "I'm not saying wear sensible shoes or ugly shoes - I'm saying take into account the message you're giving people when you meet them. You don't want an air of frivolity about you."
Style and Comfort
If that designer jacket is too snug across the shoulders, you'll never be comfortable in it, no matter how beautiful the fabric. Ditto if the shirt is too low, the skirt is too short, or the pants too tight.
But comfort goes beyond fit. "Comfort doesn't just mean that your feet don't hurt," Weingarten says. "Comfort means that you're wearing something that suits you. Women want comfort and style. You don't want to look inappropriate but you also want to have your own style."
Choose a signature color to brighten your basics. Find a little black dress for business dinners. Buy some great boots to dress up your weekend wear. Be professional, but have some fun with your fashion.
SIDEBAR:
Five Professional Image Tips
Source: Avidere (avidereimage.com)
Your image is always speaking even when you're not. Increase your personal presence and power by following these image tips:
Choose the Right Color
Dark or neutral colors such as brown or navy are considered "power" colors, appear more professional and are slimming on all figure types. Bright or light pastel colors are perceived as more playful. For a professional look, wear dark or neutral colors predominantly and bright or light colors sparingly. Wear your personal colors (those that mirror your eyes, hair and skin coloring) near your face for an attractive and powerful image.
Find a Good Fit
Wear garments that fit and flatter your shape. Clothing worn too tight or loose visually adds pounds to any figure and looks unkempt and unprofessional. Invest in styles that fit correctly or have them altered to do so. Avoid wearing revealing clothing at the office. If you want to be taken seriously, the mind, not the body should be on point.
Be Style Savvy
The clothing styles you wear communicate a great deal about your personality and career goals. For instance, jackets with lapels are considered more serious than those without. A button-down top with a v-neckline displays more authority than a crewneck t-shirt. Just remember, tailored clothing is perceived more professional than untailored clothing. You can combine both styles and maintain a professional image if the tailored look is more dominant. For instance, wear a jacket with a silk crewneck blouse. Above all, wear styles that make you feel more confident and others will treat you accordingly.
All In the Details
Grooming is an essential part of your professional image. Just remember moderation when it comes to the basics. Extreme make-up, hair color weaves, excessive or loud jewelry, strong perfume or bright nail polish is inappropriate for work and should be avoided. Select accessories and hairstyles that enhance your professional image not detract from it.
Be Authentic
Express your individuality; exude intelligence and sophistication by skillfully combing unique clothing colors, textures and styles together. There are endless ways to be creative and still maintain a strong, professional image. Just remember to always lead attention up toward your face to maintain eye contact and creditability.
The History of the Little Black Dress
Every woman looks great wearing it, and every woman has her own. It is the default date ensemble when it is one of those “I have nothing to wear” days. In fact, it is so popular, so necessary, and so much an institution in women’s fashion that we had to ask: “Where did the ‘little black dress’ come from?”
To properly understand the fashion environment necessary to produce such a simplistically fabulous necessity for any wardrobe, we must visit the 1920’s. As women shed their long, layered dresses, cut their hair and enjoyed the fast-paced party life, society slowly became more accepting of women baring slightly more of her shoulders, back, and legs. The coveted silhouette of the era was generally very slender and youthful.
It was during the 20's that the legendary fashion designer Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel first stitched her name into the history of women’s clothing design. In fact, Chanel’s designs are often considered to be the epitome of the 20’s style because her work was so fresh, modern, and updated.
Chanel encouraged and inspired the style we typically envision when we think of flappers. She was fond of working with neutral colors and soft easy-to-wear jersey fabrics that were simple in shape and cut. Chanel was able to infuse comfort and sophistication into fashion, and this combination was considered revolutionary. It was during her early work, that Chanel designed and introduced the first little black dress to the world.
First introduced in 1926, black was previously considered to be a color reserved for funerals and periods of mourning. Truly simple and sexy, Chanel’s design was a sleeveless sheath cut just above the knee. She could have never predicted the immediate and lasting love women would have with her simple, chic black dress.
As Chanel was quoted, “Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.” Whether a woman’s little black dress cost $50 or $2,000 her intention is the same: to look effortlessly classic and appropriately sexy in just seconds. While most of us cannot afford to buy Chanel’s breathtakingly beautiful pieces, we can certainly wear our trusty black dresses with the modern, sophisticated attitude she possessed.
http://www.fashion-schools.org/littleblackdressarticle.htm
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Indian Fashion - Guide to Indian dresses & clothing
Indian fashion varies from one village to another village, from one city to another city. India's fashion heritage is rich in tradition, vibrant in colors and prepossessing. Bold colors created by the inventive drapes of these textiles catches the imagination like no other contemporary clothing.
Indian Fashion - ancient fashion in India
Ancient Indian fashion garments generally used no stitching although Indians knew about sewing. Most clothes were ready to wear as soon as they left the loom. The traditional Indian Dhoti, the Scarf or Uttariya, and the popular Turban are still visible India and continue to be part of Indian fashion. Likewise, for women, the Dhoti or the Sari as the lower garments, combined with a Stanapatta forms the basic ensemble, and once again consists of garments that do not have to be stitched, the stanapatta being simply fastened in a knot at the back. And the Dhoti or the Sari worn covering both legs at the same time or, in the alternative, with one end of it passed between the legs and tucked at the back in the fashion that is still prevalent in large area of India. Indian men and women for these garments in the usually hot Indian climate. - dhoti when he speaks of 'turbans used for trousers', and a kaupina when he is speaking of 'a rag of two fingers' breadth bound over the loins.
Indian sari remains the traditional clothing of Indian women. Worn in varied styles, it is a long piece of flat cotton, silk or other fabric woven in different textures with different patterns. The sari has a lasting charm since it is not cut or tailored for a particular size. This graceful feminine attire can also be worn in several ways and its manner of wearing as well as its color and texture are indicative of the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman. The tightly fitted, short blouse worn under a sari is called a choli. The choli evolved as a form of Indian clothing around the tenth century AD and the first cholis were only front covering; the back was always bare.
http://www.indianchild.com/indian_fashion.htm
Indian Fashion - ancient fashion in India
Ancient Indian fashion garments generally used no stitching although Indians knew about sewing. Most clothes were ready to wear as soon as they left the loom. The traditional Indian Dhoti, the Scarf or Uttariya, and the popular Turban are still visible India and continue to be part of Indian fashion. Likewise, for women, the Dhoti or the Sari as the lower garments, combined with a Stanapatta forms the basic ensemble, and once again consists of garments that do not have to be stitched, the stanapatta being simply fastened in a knot at the back. And the Dhoti or the Sari worn covering both legs at the same time or, in the alternative, with one end of it passed between the legs and tucked at the back in the fashion that is still prevalent in large area of India. Indian men and women for these garments in the usually hot Indian climate. - dhoti when he speaks of 'turbans used for trousers', and a kaupina when he is speaking of 'a rag of two fingers' breadth bound over the loins.
Indian sari remains the traditional clothing of Indian women. Worn in varied styles, it is a long piece of flat cotton, silk or other fabric woven in different textures with different patterns. The sari has a lasting charm since it is not cut or tailored for a particular size. This graceful feminine attire can also be worn in several ways and its manner of wearing as well as its color and texture are indicative of the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman. The tightly fitted, short blouse worn under a sari is called a choli. The choli evolved as a form of Indian clothing around the tenth century AD and the first cholis were only front covering; the back was always bare.
http://www.indianchild.com/indian_fashion.htm
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Lingerie looks on the Max Azria runway
A woman's lingerie is not supposed to be seen by the outside world. Apparently, Max Azria thinks that's a waste of often feminine, delicate garments.
Azria turned a slew of lingerie looks into springtime outfits for his runway show held Friday as part of New York Fashion Week, with an emphasis on dainty slip dresses and silky charmeuse fabric.
"For spring 2008, dreamy silhouettes evoke sensual allure with intimate luxury," Azria explained in his "inspiration" notes handed out to an audience that included Nicole Richie, Molly Sims and Carrie Underwood - who already had on her sand-colored dress, one of the leading colors so far for next spring.
Azria and his wife Lubov, who co-designs this collection, more upscale than their BCBG line, also favored the subtle earth-tone palette, with grays, taupes, creams and blacks, adding blush and rose as accents. One particularly lovely dress was in a mauve crepe de chine that caught the lights.
Macy's fashion director Nicole Fischelis appreciated the old-fashioned dressmaking details, such as the pintucks on the front of a pretty sheath dress or the ruffles added to a blazer at the hip.
There were a few outfits, though, that risked looking a little too much like loungewear to be worn outside. Hammered satin blouses and cropped pants with camisoles underneath come to mind.
Many of the garments featured dip-dyed ombre fabrics, which have the same blurred line effect as tie-dye, but the color is spread in more subtle lines instead of a haphazard pattern.
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/pop/articles/0908lingerie.html
Azria turned a slew of lingerie looks into springtime outfits for his runway show held Friday as part of New York Fashion Week, with an emphasis on dainty slip dresses and silky charmeuse fabric.
"For spring 2008, dreamy silhouettes evoke sensual allure with intimate luxury," Azria explained in his "inspiration" notes handed out to an audience that included Nicole Richie, Molly Sims and Carrie Underwood - who already had on her sand-colored dress, one of the leading colors so far for next spring.
Azria and his wife Lubov, who co-designs this collection, more upscale than their BCBG line, also favored the subtle earth-tone palette, with grays, taupes, creams and blacks, adding blush and rose as accents. One particularly lovely dress was in a mauve crepe de chine that caught the lights.
Macy's fashion director Nicole Fischelis appreciated the old-fashioned dressmaking details, such as the pintucks on the front of a pretty sheath dress or the ruffles added to a blazer at the hip.
There were a few outfits, though, that risked looking a little too much like loungewear to be worn outside. Hammered satin blouses and cropped pants with camisoles underneath come to mind.
Many of the garments featured dip-dyed ombre fabrics, which have the same blurred line effect as tie-dye, but the color is spread in more subtle lines instead of a haphazard pattern.
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/pop/articles/0908lingerie.html
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Sizing Up Women's Clothing
After nine months of wearing maternity clothes I was anxious to hit the stores and get new clothes. Anyone with a child or two and a baby know how difficult it is to shop for clothes let alone actually try them on. Nevertheless, the maternity clothes were hanging on me but my regular clothes were still too tight. I had to get something to wear.
I loaded up the kids and hit the department stores. With the baby fussing I knew I’d be taking my chances and probably wouldn’t have the luxury of trying on the clothes. I’d play it safe and get large and extra large T-shirts, a skirt or two and some stretchy shorts. In the “misses” section of Kohl’s they had T-shirts on sale for 50% off. I loaded up on several extra large T-shirts without trying them on.
I’m not a big woman, I’m average sized but I like my T-shirts to be nice and roomy. Even with my new and improved boobs (I’m nursing), I’m still a medium sized woman. Imagine my surprise when I got home and the extra large T-shirts were too small!
What happened to the vanity sizing of women’s clothing? Remember when a size 12 would be labeled as a size 8 so the woman would feel flattered? I hated that system but at least there was some consistency, you knew to try on sizes a few sizes smaller than you actually were.
Has the pendulum swung the other way? Do I need to be shopping in the “plus” size section? Instead of trying on size 8s, do I need to try on size 18? Or has my changing body swelled beyond what I’m willing to admit? Or is the “misses” section the new “juniors”?
Standard sizing for women’s clothing is non-existent. Sizing varies from store to store, manufacturer to manufacturer and sometimes even by designer. To make it more confusing, add in the different size categories: juniors, misses, women’s, petites and plus sizes. A junior’s size 8 is different from a women’s size 8.
• Junior’s sizes are designed for teens and younger women with slimmer hips and busts than those found in misses sizes.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/49593/sizing_up_womens_clothing.html
I loaded up the kids and hit the department stores. With the baby fussing I knew I’d be taking my chances and probably wouldn’t have the luxury of trying on the clothes. I’d play it safe and get large and extra large T-shirts, a skirt or two and some stretchy shorts. In the “misses” section of Kohl’s they had T-shirts on sale for 50% off. I loaded up on several extra large T-shirts without trying them on.
I’m not a big woman, I’m average sized but I like my T-shirts to be nice and roomy. Even with my new and improved boobs (I’m nursing), I’m still a medium sized woman. Imagine my surprise when I got home and the extra large T-shirts were too small!
What happened to the vanity sizing of women’s clothing? Remember when a size 12 would be labeled as a size 8 so the woman would feel flattered? I hated that system but at least there was some consistency, you knew to try on sizes a few sizes smaller than you actually were.
Has the pendulum swung the other way? Do I need to be shopping in the “plus” size section? Instead of trying on size 8s, do I need to try on size 18? Or has my changing body swelled beyond what I’m willing to admit? Or is the “misses” section the new “juniors”?
Standard sizing for women’s clothing is non-existent. Sizing varies from store to store, manufacturer to manufacturer and sometimes even by designer. To make it more confusing, add in the different size categories: juniors, misses, women’s, petites and plus sizes. A junior’s size 8 is different from a women’s size 8.
• Junior’s sizes are designed for teens and younger women with slimmer hips and busts than those found in misses sizes.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/49593/sizing_up_womens_clothing.html
Monday, October 15, 2007
The T-Shirt Spiel Deal
Super Tees Blueprint
Split the Atom lays out its blueprints for breeding a race of atomic super tees.
We stock T-shirts. Loads of them. They are for men and they are for women, and our tip-top, ground-breaking designs are all exclusive to us.
T-shirts are brill. They're the ultimate piece of clothing to showcase art - they're a blank canvas just waiting to have the latest wunderkid's graphic design masterpiece screen-printed upon them.
Wearing a Split the Atom designer T-shirt gives you the chance to stand out from the crowd. While all your student/office chums are lazily purchasing clone tee-shirt brands from shopping malls, you can shop with us and be safe in the knowledge that you'll look and feel individual - a cut above the rest.
Wearing a Split the Atom tee will lead your friends/relatives/enemies to start seeing you in a different light - they will be compelled to reach a sky-high level of respect for you. They'll no doubt be enthusing about you once you've departed the room:
Acquaintance 1: "Hey, did you see Jack/Janice has started wearing some really bang-on tee shirts?"
Acquaintance 2: "Yeah, I did. They look really boss. Where do you think he/she gets them?"
Acquaintance 1: "I'm not sure, but - I'll tell you one thing - I'd truly consider sleeping with him/her now.
Or something.
Limited edition
We print limited runs of our tees, and once they're gone, they might never be printed again. And even if they are, they'll probably be printed on a different colour T-shirt. So don't end up missing out on a MAKI classic on grass-green, and end up sobbing when we reprint it on gold. ("But gold just so clashes with my complexion, boo hoo.") Save yourself the agony and purchase it when you can.
Quality prints
Our tees are printed using the highest quality spot-colour screen printing process. We treat our designs with the reverence great art deserves, so only the finest prints will do. If the standard ever slips, the tshirts get chucked in the charity bag. It's as simple as that.
God bless American Apparel
We print our exclusive designs on fashion tee-shirts manufactured by American Apparel. They are a modern design, stylishly cut as and 100 per cent cotton. Their range of tee colours is both varied and inspired, and they are manufactured in sunny LA and not some Honduras sweatshop where the 13 year old workers are being paid wages of twenty pence a month.
American Apparel is also a far superior fit. Rival brands tend to produce saggy, shapeless tops, with a touch that is abrasive to the skin. The American Apparel shirts feel silky smooth. When you've got one on, you just know it's a classy piece of clothing - as do those who see you wearing it.
The finishing fashion touch we add to our T-shirts is the application of our custom made sleeve-tag labels (featuring our 'atomic' motif) that will make you stand out in any crowd.
Community spirit
At Split the Atom, we pledge to give you the best designs by the most impressive upcoming designers the world over.
So we're calling for graphic designers and illustrators the globe over to submit there original art into our NeverEnding T-shirt Design Competition™ . We screen-print on to our tees the very finest and most popular designs, and the artists walk away with £250 each in their sky-rockets - which can't be bad.
And how do we determine which designs are most popular? We know because you, in no uncertain terms, tell us which designs are your favourite! We collate ratings and user comments for all our submissions and use them to help us decide which tees to print up. It's your shout. You have the power. Use it wisely. If there is a submitted design that you think would be ideal for a tee-shirt - so good, in fact, that you think it would be criminal for us not to print it - then let your voice be heard, because we're listening.
This democratic approach (a genuine application of the dictum: 'the customer knows best') helps to forge the community spirit on the site. Users know that they have an influence here, so they're more inclined to voice their opinions.
The site also works as an excellent sounding board for ideas. Not every designer who enters the NeverEnding T-shirt Design CompetitionTM will win the cash and see their t shirts printed, but there is a good chance they will receive useful and constructive feedback from their peers in the comments section - a process which will help further young talents.
Style guide
So what kind of submissions are we looking for? What's our style guide? We'll let you into a secret: there isn't one. We have no editorial policy towards the style of tee-shirts that we print. Funny tees, serious, tees, miserable tees, cool tees, arty tees, silly tees, zany tees, pretentious tees, clinically-insane tees - we'll print the Jewson lot. The only criterion is that the work is original, and that you like it and we like it - and that's it.
The power of the blog
Blogs, if written with honesty and integrity, are a fantastic way for retailers and customers to communicate with each other in a way they have never done before. This is why the Atom Blog is an element of the site we really want to make good use of - and we hope you will to.
It's unlikely that you could ever walk into your local Tesco and get to speak to the CEO about the direction the company is taking. ("Oi, Terry. Your strategy of implementing Metro stores on the west coast is U.S. is doomed to failure. Sort it out!") It's not going to happen. But, with the Atom Blog, you can have your say - and we'll be all ears.
Lord knows, Split the Atom is no model of entrepreneurship. It's all a bit fuzzy, messy - a shambles, in fact. But, perhaps, if we're transparent enough about this business of flogging T-shirts, sharper brains will chip in, help steer the ship. In our experience, intelligent people love showing other people just how intelligent they are. Atom Blog is designed to milk that tendency.
Crunch time
So there you are. We've pimped our company as best we can. Frankly, we've talked it up to the observation deck of the Tower of Babel. We're drained. So go and check Split the Atom out for yourself. We're like our tshirts - lots. Maybe you'll like them to. (Was that a bit too Linda Barker?
http://www.splittheatom.com/resources/articles/blue-print.asp
Split the Atom lays out its blueprints for breeding a race of atomic super tees.
We stock T-shirts. Loads of them. They are for men and they are for women, and our tip-top, ground-breaking designs are all exclusive to us.
T-shirts are brill. They're the ultimate piece of clothing to showcase art - they're a blank canvas just waiting to have the latest wunderkid's graphic design masterpiece screen-printed upon them.
Wearing a Split the Atom designer T-shirt gives you the chance to stand out from the crowd. While all your student/office chums are lazily purchasing clone tee-shirt brands from shopping malls, you can shop with us and be safe in the knowledge that you'll look and feel individual - a cut above the rest.
Wearing a Split the Atom tee will lead your friends/relatives/enemies to start seeing you in a different light - they will be compelled to reach a sky-high level of respect for you. They'll no doubt be enthusing about you once you've departed the room:
Acquaintance 1: "Hey, did you see Jack/Janice has started wearing some really bang-on tee shirts?"
Acquaintance 2: "Yeah, I did. They look really boss. Where do you think he/she gets them?"
Acquaintance 1: "I'm not sure, but - I'll tell you one thing - I'd truly consider sleeping with him/her now.
Or something.
Limited edition
We print limited runs of our tees, and once they're gone, they might never be printed again. And even if they are, they'll probably be printed on a different colour T-shirt. So don't end up missing out on a MAKI classic on grass-green, and end up sobbing when we reprint it on gold. ("But gold just so clashes with my complexion, boo hoo.") Save yourself the agony and purchase it when you can.
Quality prints
Our tees are printed using the highest quality spot-colour screen printing process. We treat our designs with the reverence great art deserves, so only the finest prints will do. If the standard ever slips, the tshirts get chucked in the charity bag. It's as simple as that.
God bless American Apparel
We print our exclusive designs on fashion tee-shirts manufactured by American Apparel. They are a modern design, stylishly cut as and 100 per cent cotton. Their range of tee colours is both varied and inspired, and they are manufactured in sunny LA and not some Honduras sweatshop where the 13 year old workers are being paid wages of twenty pence a month.
American Apparel is also a far superior fit. Rival brands tend to produce saggy, shapeless tops, with a touch that is abrasive to the skin. The American Apparel shirts feel silky smooth. When you've got one on, you just know it's a classy piece of clothing - as do those who see you wearing it.
The finishing fashion touch we add to our T-shirts is the application of our custom made sleeve-tag labels (featuring our 'atomic' motif) that will make you stand out in any crowd.
Community spirit
At Split the Atom, we pledge to give you the best designs by the most impressive upcoming designers the world over.
So we're calling for graphic designers and illustrators the globe over to submit there original art into our NeverEnding T-shirt Design Competition™ . We screen-print on to our tees the very finest and most popular designs, and the artists walk away with £250 each in their sky-rockets - which can't be bad.
And how do we determine which designs are most popular? We know because you, in no uncertain terms, tell us which designs are your favourite! We collate ratings and user comments for all our submissions and use them to help us decide which tees to print up. It's your shout. You have the power. Use it wisely. If there is a submitted design that you think would be ideal for a tee-shirt - so good, in fact, that you think it would be criminal for us not to print it - then let your voice be heard, because we're listening.
This democratic approach (a genuine application of the dictum: 'the customer knows best') helps to forge the community spirit on the site. Users know that they have an influence here, so they're more inclined to voice their opinions.
The site also works as an excellent sounding board for ideas. Not every designer who enters the NeverEnding T-shirt Design CompetitionTM will win the cash and see their t shirts printed, but there is a good chance they will receive useful and constructive feedback from their peers in the comments section - a process which will help further young talents.
Style guide
So what kind of submissions are we looking for? What's our style guide? We'll let you into a secret: there isn't one. We have no editorial policy towards the style of tee-shirts that we print. Funny tees, serious, tees, miserable tees, cool tees, arty tees, silly tees, zany tees, pretentious tees, clinically-insane tees - we'll print the Jewson lot. The only criterion is that the work is original, and that you like it and we like it - and that's it.
The power of the blog
Blogs, if written with honesty and integrity, are a fantastic way for retailers and customers to communicate with each other in a way they have never done before. This is why the Atom Blog is an element of the site we really want to make good use of - and we hope you will to.
It's unlikely that you could ever walk into your local Tesco and get to speak to the CEO about the direction the company is taking. ("Oi, Terry. Your strategy of implementing Metro stores on the west coast is U.S. is doomed to failure. Sort it out!") It's not going to happen. But, with the Atom Blog, you can have your say - and we'll be all ears.
Lord knows, Split the Atom is no model of entrepreneurship. It's all a bit fuzzy, messy - a shambles, in fact. But, perhaps, if we're transparent enough about this business of flogging T-shirts, sharper brains will chip in, help steer the ship. In our experience, intelligent people love showing other people just how intelligent they are. Atom Blog is designed to milk that tendency.
Crunch time
So there you are. We've pimped our company as best we can. Frankly, we've talked it up to the observation deck of the Tower of Babel. We're drained. So go and check Split the Atom out for yourself. We're like our tshirts - lots. Maybe you'll like them to. (Was that a bit too Linda Barker?
http://www.splittheatom.com/resources/articles/blue-print.asp
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